ONLINE GAMES HUB

Who says learning can't be fun? Some research (below) suggests that playing games may have educational benefits. Be sure to bookmark this page! It's updated regularly with new resources and research about games and learning. You might also want to see:

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Kids Crazy for Fortnite? Learn About it Here!

Fortnite: Battle Royale- If your kids aren't already playing this hugely popular new game, they probably soon will be, or will at least want to be. This (mostly) free game was just released by Epic Games in September, and already it's been downloaded 40 million-plus times globally, and it continues to grow!

Fortnite is available as an app on iOS devices and will soon be available on Android devices. It’s also available on macOS and Windows, as well as PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

How is it played? The game kicks off with 100 players in real-time—often strangers—who jump out of a plane on to a remote island where they fight (along with a bunch of zombies) until only one player is left standing. It's a multi-player shooter game, each player is even armed with a pick-axe upon being dropped onto the island. To protect themselves, and to kill off others, players search the island for hidden weaponry (like crossbows, grenades and guns) and collect other resources to build themselves shelters.

Why do kids love this game? It's social! Players often wear headsets and converse with other players. Because players can wear funny costumes and break into dance moves, kids think it's funny! Plus they can team up with other players to play in duo or quad mode.

In addition to the violence in this game, there is also profane language (many players leave their audio on while playing). Also, young children could potentially be enticed to share personal and financial information with strangers, and unknowingly form relationships with online predators. The game allows for in-game and upgrade purchases too, it brings in over $100 million per month!

Bottom Line- If you're uncomfortable with violence, you might think twice before giving the a-ok on this one! Although the violence in this game is not nearly as gory or problematic as it is on some of the first-person shooter games (i.e., Call of Duty), this game is still not recommended for children under 13.